YOUNG keeper Ryan Robinson had a night to forget after two second half mistakes proved costly at Christie Park last night.

Robinson was outstanding last season during Rovers' march to the final of the FA Youth Cup.

But he gifted United the points here after making a hash of two second half clearances which resulted in goals for United pair James Davis and Daniel Nardiello.

"It was a classic game of two halves," said manager Alan Murray.

"We played well in the first half but fell asleep in the second and we paid a price for two errors.

"But Ryan's only a young boy and he'll bounce back from that." Murray fielded a strong side containing a trio of first teamers in Damien Johnson, Alan Mahon and John Curtis.

And the home side certainly started brightly enough against a United side featuring Quinton Fortune.

Mahon tested former Wigan keeper Ray Carroll with a stinging drive in the opening quarter of an hour.

And he then eclipsed that with a stunning opener in the 23rd minute.

Johnson was the architect, picking out the Irishman with a sweeping crossfield pass.

Mahon's control was instant and he then beat Carroll with a wonderfully measured chip which crept in off the far post.

Young striker Jon Walters then went close to a second after beating two defenders with a brilliant piece of trickery. And Burton O'Brien missed a golden chance three minutes before the break but fired over after pouncing on a mistake from Alan Tate.

But the game turned completely on its head in the second half as United emerged with new determination.

Within a minute of the restart they were back on level terms when Ben Muirhead reacted sharply to poke home a cross-shot.

And they then found themselves in front on 54 minutes when Robinson's clearance fell straight to Micheal Stewart who released Davis to finish in style.

Walters then missed a glorious opportunity to equalise but fired straight at Carroll after Mahon had sliced open the United defence.

But another scuffed clearance from Robinson presented Nardiello with the chance to make it 3-1 on 60 minutes with a perfectly flighted lob.

In a frantic finale, both sides hit the woodwork as they searched for more goals.

First, United sub Daniel Pugh struck the bar with a stunning 30 yard chip then Mahon rattled a post with a fierce free kick.

But there was no way back for Rovers on the night in front of a bumping crowd of 2,035.

ROVERS RES...1 MANCHESTER UTD RES...3

Rovers: Robinson, Grayson, Kenna, Johnson, Greer, Curtis, McNamee, Bell, Walters, O'Brien, Mahon. Subs: Danns (for McNamee, 46), Donnelly (for Bell, 67) Not used: Howson, Renton, Murray

United: Carroll, Roche, Tierney, Tate, Clegg, Wallwork, Muirhead, Stewart, Nardiello, Davis, Fortune. Subs: Pugh (for Wallwork, 58), Williams (for Nardiello, 80) Not used: Rankin, Williams, Sampson